Tag: Elijah

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2 Kings Devotionals

God’s curse, God’s grace

In chapters 1 and 2 we see two incidences of God’s curse being invoked by Elijah and Elisha.

Probably for most readers, they’re hard to understand. It all seems very harsh.

Something that’s important to remember, however, is that when the Bible talks about God’s curse, it’s not talking about some magic formula to bring down disaster upon our enemies.

It’s God’s judgment on a rebellious people.

We see that in the first case with Elijah.

There was a definite arrogance and rebelliousness against God and his prophet shown by Israel’s king and the first two captains he sent.

The second case with Elisha shows a similar arrogance and rebelliousness against God and his prophet.

What makes it more difficult to swallow, though, is that most translations call the offenders “small boys” or “young boys.”

But the Hebrew word for “boys” is very broad and is often used to describe people who were young men.

Solomon uses that exact term for himself in 1 Kings 3:7 which different English Bibles translate “youth,” “small child,” or “young man.”

However you translate Solomon’s words, I think it’s clear he was putting himself down, admitting his inexperience and ignorance as a young man.

In the same way, I think the writer of Kings was criticizing the ignorance of these young men.

But the difference between Solomon and these young men was that Solomon was humble before God. The result was he found grace.

These young men accosting Elisha were arrogant and hostile against Elisha and the God he served.

As a result, they were judged.

James put it this way.

God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore, submit to God…

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Be miserable and mourn and weep.

Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (Jamess 4:6–10)

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1 Kings Devotionals

God’s gentleness

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.

He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever…

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust. (Psalm 103: 8-9, 13-14)

God brought those verses to mind as I read 1 Kings 19 today.

Elijah was in a full-blown pity party. And God could have easily said, “You want to die? Fine! Die!”

But instead, God showed great concern for him, sending an angel to give him food and drink.

And then there was his interaction with Elijah on the mountain.

I wonder what Elijah was thinking when God told him, “Go out on the mountain and stand in my presence.”

Did he go out in trepidation, fearing God’s response? Did he expect a scathing rebuke?

If he did, God certainly gave him a lot to look at, a fierce wind, an earthquake, fire.

But when Elijah looked carefully, God wasn’t in any of those things.

Instead, when God spoke again, he spoke gently.

That said, God didn’t leave Elijah in his pity party. He called Elijah out of that pity party and back into his service.

So many Christians have this deep-seeded fear of God. They feel he’s always accusing, always angry at us for our failures.

But our Father is not that way. He doesn’t come screaming at us. He comes at us with a gentle whisper, calling us to get up and follow him once more.

Categories
1 Kings Devotionals

Though we may not see

1 Kings

I’ve read this story dozens, if not hundreds of times. Today I saw something new.

Here is Elijah, fresh off an incredible victory in which God answered his prayer with literal fire, and people are proclaiming, “The Lord, he is God!”

But now we see him on the run from Jezebel, afraid and discouraged.

He goes to Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai), where Moses had met with God hundreds of years before.

How does God greet him?

“What are you doing here?”

Simply put, “You’re not supposed to be here. Why are you here?”

Elijah then complains that despite all his work, he is the only one left in Israel who is faithful to God.

God then passes by three times, but as he does, his presence is not found in spectacular displays.

Elijah’s eyes are captured by the strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire because they naturally draw one’s eyes.

But God was not in any of them. In focusing on those things, he missed seeing God.

Instead, God was in place where Elijah least expected: in the silence.

Most translations say, “a still small voice.”

But the word can also be translated, “a thin silence.”

The NASB puts it, “a sound of a gentle blowing” and the CEV puts it, “a gentle breeze.”

It makes me think of Jesus’ words concerning the Holy Spirit and his work.

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

God then tells Elijah to get back to work. And he leaves him with these words of encouragement.

But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18)

Seven thousand are not a lot of people when you consider the millions living in Israel at that time. But I’m not sure that number was meant to be literal.  Seven is a number symbolizing completeness in the Bible.

And so what God was probably saying was, “I have my people here in Israel. And all that are mine will come to me.” (John 6:37)

Here in Japan, Christians pray for revival. And in so praying, many want to see a mighty work which is loud and visible. I would like to see that.

But when we don’t see it, people get discouraged. Many have dropped out of ministry because of it.

But God tells us, “My presence and my work is not always in the loud and visible. Many times, I’m working quietly where you can’t see. Your work is not in vain.

“Even in Japan, I have my people. I know those who are mine.”  (2 Timothy 2:19).

“So get back to work. I will save my people.”